Dear Literacy Link – Leamos Supporter and Editor,
Our most important funder and partner, the New Mexico Coalition for Literacy, is once again under threat from the New Mexico Higher Education Department. This probably sounds strange to you if you haven’t been following the politics of funding for small community-based literacy programs, or the machinations in Santa Fe.
Over July 4th weekend, the Higher Education Department’s Adult Education division sent an email to selected New Mexico college-based Adult Basic Ed providers, inviting them to bid on the contract currently held by the NM Coalition for Literacy. The Executive Director of the NMCL was sent this email by a whistle-blower who recognized that this action is not just unethical, but illegal. State agencies must follow established policies and procedures related to putting current contracts out for bid, and these were bypassed. The NMCL’s contract is still in force, and in fact the Coalition is the middle of contract amendments with the State HED for 2019-20.
Also, the Coalition recently received an AmeriCorps grant. AmeriCorps volunteers are due to arrive in New Mexico in September to provide free assistance to Coalition literacy programs. This grant is also threatened by the HED’s attempt to solicit bids.
There are two basic models for adult education. One is college- or university-based—free ESL, basic literacy or GED classes offered each semester. The other model is community-based one-to-one tutoring, like Literacy Link- Leamos. Programs like ours are housed in a public library or other community center. A small staff coordinates the efforts of many volunteers.
These two models have the same purpose: help New Mexican adults improve their education levels so they can better support their families and bring prosperity to our communities. Both models work. However, for small towns in the rural, southern half of the state, many students are more comfortable with library-based programs like ours. People working at low levels of education, with jobs and childcare needs, can’t complete a semester-based program that may be moving too fast for them, has attendance requirements which can bounce them from the class, or meets during a time when they cannot attend. Our program is more flexible and for these students, works better.
The NM Coalition for Literacy is our most important funder. They provide an Operating Expenses grant each year, which is critical for our survival. They also provide, at no charge to us, expensive data tracking and assessment systems which we could never afford to purchase on our own (the cost of CASAS assessment materials would be about $15,000 per year).
In 2016, the Higher Ed Department tried to do the same thing. The Coalition eventually defeated this attempt, but program funding was delayed for seven months while contract negotiations dragged on. Some small programs went under while waiting for funds. Literacy Link survived, but this year, with other grant funding down 25%, it will be much more difficult.
If you believe in what we do, and if you want to make sure the most vulnerable adults in our community continue to receive the educational support we provide, PLEASE call, email AND write physical letters to your state representatives and your County Commissioners. I’ve attached contact information to this letter. A hard copy of this letter plus the legislative contact list is in the mail to you with a couple of Literacy Link-Leamos articles.
Thank you for supporting Literacy Link – Leamos!
Sincerely,
Mary Beth Folia, Program Director
Literacy Link - Leamos